The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun yesterday ordered the arrest of a supernumerary (Spy) police officer seen in a viral video asking voters to reject the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 21 Edo State governorship election, Asue Ighodalo.

He asked eligible voters not to vote for Asue because he and Governor Godwin Obaseki had allegedly committed crimes against the people “and stole our resources”.

However, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, the police condemned the “political comments”.

The IGP said: “The Nigeria Police Force has been made aware of a recent video evidencing political comment by an individual dressed in a Spy police uniform regarding the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial election, which has been circulating on social media platforms.

“The NPF strongly condemns this act and clarifies that the individual is not a regular NPF officer, but a supernumerary (Spy) police officer employed by a private company. “Supernumerary police officers are private individuals trained by the police for specific security functions, primarily within their place of employment.

“They are not on the payroll of the NPF and do not swear to the oath of allegiance like sworn regular police officers, thus they have the right to belong to any political party of their choice and freedom of expression.

“In this extant case, we frown on the wearing of his official Spy uniform and engaging in political activities. “The individual involved has been arrested for further investigations.”

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